The annual Rhode Island Business Plan Competition will culminate on May 16th with a mini-pitch contest and the naming of winners in three separate tracks. The event will be held in conjunction with The Garage 2017 at the Waterfire Arts Center in Providence. Join in and meet entrepreneurs, funders, mentors, and business leaders. Details can be found here.

The Garage 2017 sponsored by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce will feature an Innovation Showcase and a formal introduction of MassChallenge and the Cambridge Innovation Center to the Rhode Island market. The event will be held at the brand new Waterfire Arts Center. Details can be found here.

The State of Rhode Island announces its first “Diversity Business Enterprise Forum” to connect diverse business owners with resources and opportunities to grow their business through Government Procurement. The forum is hosted by the Department of Administration, Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity’s Minority Business Enterprise Compliance Office (MBECO) and Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), in partnership with Oasis International, Progreso Latino, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Center for Southeast Asians, Center for Women & Enterprise, African Alliance of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Black Contractors Associations, Urban Ventures, Rhode Island Black Business Association, Rhode Island Indian Council, and NAACP/Providence Branch.

The event will feature a business networking opportunity, entitled: “The Procurement Exchange” from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., where vendors will be able to have a face-to-face conversation with several State agencies, quasi-state agencies, and prime vendor procurement officials about current and future projects, and opportunities to contract with these entities. The event will also feature three workshops:

“How To Do Business with the State of Rhode Island” 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

“How to Apply for MBE, WBE, DBE, ACDBE, 8(A),

VOSB, and SDVOSB Designation” 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

“Financing Your Business” 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Registration and Check-In will be from 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m., followed by Opening Remarks in the Auditorium at 12:30 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. However, space is limited, particularly for the workshops, so pre-registration is required.

Individuals requiring reasonable accomodations in order to participate in the forum should contact Ms. Krystal Waters at (401) 222-6398 (voice) or #711 (R.I. Relay) at least five (5) business days prior to the event.

Get ready for this fast paced workshop covering the wide world of freelancing! Creative Relay co-founders and long-time freelancers Ed Shems (91 IL) and Justin Perricone will be your guides as you navigate the rewards and potential pitfalls of a freelance creative career. They’ll cover everything from the first conversation, to signing a contract, to delivering concepts, to sending a final invoice and other steps that lead to a successful project and a happy (which often means returning) client. You’ll also learn tips and suggestions for the first meeting, the basics of payments and revising contracts as work progresses and how to deal with difficult clients. You’ll become more confident in treating your freelance work like a business and in your ability to work with clients while enjoying more success.

The rate of new entrepreneurs within the immigrant population has consistently surpassed the number of native-born individuals, according to the Kauffman Foundation. Immigration has also been the center of a nationwide conversation ever since the 2016 presidential election. What are the challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs and what changes in law and policy might impact them?

Join us for a chat with Peter Roberts '83, Founder and Principal of the immigration law firm Roberts Immigration Law Group. The firm’s clients include multinationals, entrepreneurs, founders, investors, start-ups, and start-up accelerators in all fields, including Y Combinator and YC founders. Location: List Art Building. Sponsored by the Jonathan Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University.

For some, finding your passion is an aspirational phrase. For others, like serial CEO Chuck Davis '82, P'13, P'16, it's a way of life. Join us for a discussion with Chuck as he shares how passion led him from Brown to some of the technology world's biggest brands to his current position as CEO of Prodege, LLC, the parent company of consumer rewards sites Swagbucks and MyPoints. Sponsored by the Jonathan Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University. Location: Petteruti Lounge.

Innovate@Brown is a makeathon designed to bring together students from technical and nontechnical backgrounds tocreate something extraordinary. With the guidance of notable speakers, workshop leaders, and mentors, students will have the opportunity to work in teams to come up with a product that can solve a major world problem. The best product in the conference will be awarded $250 and continued mentorship from the Nelson Center of Entrepreneurship, with its resources, guidance, and network.

Expand your business network at this annual statewide event which includes participants from more than 12 area chambers of commerce. Upwards of 800 business professionals expected to attend. Learn more.